Telecommunication system and method, and components therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical module adapted to operatively connect to a transmission line. The electrical module includes a connection point adapted to connect to a network device. The electrical module is configured to receive a composite signal from the transmission line, the composite signal including a data component and a power component, and to separate the composite signal to extract the data component and the power component. The electrical module is further configured to transmit data to the network device through the connection point, and to supply power to the network device through the connection point. Also disclosed is a telecommunication system and method.

1 . A telecommunication system including:
 a two-conductor cable, which is adapted to transmit a composite signal, including a data component and a power component;   a plurality of electrical modules, each module operatively connected to the two-conductor cable, each electrical module including a connection point, wherein the connection point is an Ethernet port; and   at least one network device connected to each connection point;   
       wherein, the electrical module is configured to:
 receive the composite signal from the two-conductor cable; 
 separate the composite signal by filtering the composite signal to extract the data component and the power component; 
 supply power derived from the power component through the connection point using a Power over Ethernet specification to power the network device(s) connected thereto; 
 transmit data derived from the data component through the connection point to the network device(s) connected thereto; 
 receive output data through the connection point to the network device(s) connected thereto; and 
 transmit output data along the two-conductor cable. 
 
     
     
         2 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein each electrical module further includes data packet switching circuitry for routing frames or packets of the data and of the output data between the electrical module and the network device(s). 
     
     
         3 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein each electrical module is further configured to be remotely monitored. 
     
     
         4 . An electrical module adapted to operatively connect to a two-conductor cable, the electrical module including:
 a connection point adapted to connect to a network device, wherein the connection point is an Ethernet port;   wherein the electrical module is configured to:
 receive a composite signal from the two-conductor cable, the composite signal including a data component and a DC power component, the data component having a frequency in the megahertz range; 
 separate the composite signal by filtering the composite signal to extract the data component and the power component; 
 transmit data derived from the data component to the network device through the connection point using an Ethernet specification; and 
 supply power derived from the power component to the network device through the connection point using a Power over Ethernet specification, and wherein where the electrical module includes more than one two-conductor communications module, the electrical module is further configured to not pass the part of the power component between any of the two-conductor communications modules. 
   
     
     
         5 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the two-conductor cable is a coaxial cable, and preferably, is one of a leaky feeder coaxial cable or a hard line coaxial cable. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module includes two or more connection points adapted to connect to two or more network devices. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical module of  claim 6 , wherein the electrical module transmits data to the two or more network devices through the two or more connection points, and wherein the electrical module supplies power to the two or more network devices through the two or more connection points. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical module of  claim 6 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to receive output data from the network device. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical module of  claim 8 , wherein the electrical module further includes data packet switching circuitry for routing frames or packets of the data and of the output data between the electrical module and the network device. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to convert a format of the data. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to transmit the output data along the two-conductor cable. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to be remotely monitored. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to be remotely configurable for configuring internal settings of the electrical module. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to condition the power. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module is further configured to power internal circuitry of the electrical module using a portion of the power component. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module further includes a filter module for filtering the composite signal, the filter module including:
 a low-pass filter to isolate the power component; and   a high-pass filter or a band-pass filter to isolate the data component.   
     
     
         17 . The electrical module of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical module further includes a splitter for connecting the electrical module to the end of the two-conductor cable, wherein the splitter includes:
 an input port adapted to connect to the end of the two-conductor cable;   a first output port connected to the electrical module; and   a second output port.   
     
     
         18 . The electrical module of  claim 17 , wherein the second output port is adapted to connect to an end of a further cable. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical module of  claim 17 , wherein the input port, the first output port, and the second output port are bidirectional. 
     
     
         20 . A method of data communication, including the steps of:
 receiving from a two-conductor cable, by the electrical module of  claim 4 , a composite signal including a data component and a DC power component, the data component having a frequency in the megahertz range;   separating only a part of the received composite signal by filtering the composite signal to extract only a part of the data component and only a part of the DC power component;   transmitting data derived from the data component to a network device connected to the electrical module; and   supplying power derived from the power component to the network device,   wherein where the electrical module includes more than one two-conductor communications module, not passing the DC power component between any of the two-conductor communications modules.